$500 Reward offered in attempted robbery of south St. Louis jewelry store

(KMOV) -- A south St. Louis jewelry store owner is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of two men who tried to break into his store.

Al Bruton said two men threw a hunk of concrete at the front window of Jewels on Hampton in the 4500 block of Hampton around 1:30 a.m. Friday.

Store surveillance video shows the suspects casing the store from a side alley before waiting for a break in traffic to throw the concrete. But the tempered glass did not break and the thieves never got in.

“I feel lucky but upset, we’re just honest businessmen just trying to make a living, and they’re just trying to destroy everything that we’re doing,” said Bruton, who owns the place.

Bruton has multiple cameras outside and inside his store. He is sharing the video with police and other store owners in the area.

He believes the suspects did not have a car and may live in the neighborhood.

Bruton says he will pay the reward money to anyone who provides a tip leading to the arrest of the suspects.